Chosen as on of the top cities for the next decade by CEOWorld magazine, San Francisco has much to offer the local and the tourist alike. One of the areas that helped San Francisco make the list was the variety of ways to enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle whether traveling alone or with a family.
Walk
Downtown San Francisco is an ideal area to explore on foot. Many of the city's most popular landmarks are all located within walking distance from each other and the city center. Alternatively, a walk up one of the city's famous hills will not only provide you with a low-impact and family-centric way to exercise but also give you great view of the bay and city below.
Eat
In addition to being known as a center for fine cuisine, San Francisco is also well-known for it health-oriented food culture. San Francisco is one of the only cities in the nation that has its own website dedicated to advancing a sustainable food policy and culture. Accordingly, there are a range of places that offer, healthy, local-grown, environmentally friendly food for the entire family. One of the most famous places to sample San Francisco's fresh food is the Ferry Building Marketplace. Open three days a week, the market offers everything from fresh produce to organic coffee to hand-crafted chocolates.
Bike
Despite its hills, San Francisco is provides an excellent venue for a family bike tour. Indeed, there are over ten organized bikes tours and a large community of bike shops that rent bikes to you to organize your own city tour. One popular route is crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and back. Safely crossing the bridge is possible via a gated bike and pedestrian lane that separates you from automobile traffic. Access to the bridge is free for bikes but is only available during the daytime and if weather permits.
Water Activities
While the San Francisco may not be known for its beach-culture like Los Angeles or San Diego, its beaches are worth spending a day if the weather permits. One of the more popular beaches for families with kids is Rodeo Beach. Rodeo Beach's pebbly texture and attached lagoon is popular with children as a place to explore and collect rocks. Hiking the trails behind the beach provides great views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge.
Golden Gate Park
Measuring about three mile in length and a mile in width, the Golden Gate Park is one of the largest areas in the city. In addition to providing a space in the heart of the city to run, walk, hike and play, the park is also the location of some of San Francisco's more unique sites including the DeYoung Museum, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden and the kid-friendly California Academy of Sciences. Entry to the park is free but entrance to some of the park's sites requires admission.
Member Comments